What Is My Website Footer Missing?

Have you ever given much thought to the footer of your website pages? Even though the footer may not contain the most compelling content or be graphically creative, it is the place visitors return time and time again to gather much-needed information. It is crucial that you don’t neglect to pay attention to this portion of planning your website design!

So, what elements must be present in the footer? How do you keep it organized? How do you make it appealing without being over the top?

Here, you will learn the necessary elements to include and suggestions on how to present the footer to have the maximum impact possible.

Basic Contact Information

Be certain to include the main phone number, email address, and physical address. Better yet, you will really impress potential clients if you include auto dial and a direct click to a map for your location. Of course, it is imperative to have a link to your “contact us” page but including your basic information will keep your visitors happy.

Simplify The Design

A simple, clean design is very important to maintain in the footer. You want to stay away from a cluttered appearance. Less is more in this case. Yes, you want to convey the necessary information but you don’t want too much in the footer. Think about the elements that you want in the footer. Ask yourself why they should be there. This process will help you know what needs to stay. Keep in mind footer size reflects the amount of information within it and how many pages are on your website.

Organized Footer Links

Something that creates a sense of organization is grouping like footer items. You can create several rows or columns of relevant information (i.e. services, contact, social media, links, and highlights from your popular pages). Make sure to Place each section under a header. This way every element is easy to find and see.

Link To Your Information

The absolute must linked pages are “about” and “contact us.” Visitors to your site want to know about you and what your company offers. An additional page you may consider linking to the footer is your “team” page. People are interested who works with you.

Copyright Notice

Don’t forget this little lifesaver. You can choose to write out a copyright line at the bottom of the footer or use the circular “c” symbol. The text usually includes the name of the copyright owner and the year of publication.

Graphic Elements

Don’t hesitate from using graphics in the footer. Often, footers are text only and may bog down the reader. Using crisp, clear icons for links can be visually appealing. However, a “hover state” added to spell out the website link is most beneficial, too.

Call To Action

You ALWAYS want to have a call to action. It’s important to initiate interaction with potential customers. This may be a fill-in box for name and address to receive a newsletter. It could be an invitation to follow you on social media. Don’t overlook this valuable space to convert to clicks!

Continue Your Site’s Theme

Far too often people add the footer and it looks like an afterthought to developing the website. Be proactive and think about this space from the beginning of developing the site. Carrying the theme through the footer will be most aesthetically appealing and it will show that you care about that information you’re presenting in that area.

A Sense of Hierarchy

Your website has a sense of hierarchy throughout the pages. Therefore, the footer should also present that hierarchy within its container. The most important elements should be front and center (contact information, site map, call to action). Other standard information is in small scale.

A Sub-Footer

Maybe the footer needs a sub-footer. This is a popular layout. Adding a sub-footer furthers the sense of hierarchy and creates an element of dimension. You can use this space to highlight “praise” from customers or showcase your call to action.

Now you can see the impact of a well thought out and designed footer. This is a space that many people use to contact you, learn more about your business, and engage with you through a call to action. Give some time to planning this part of your website, make sure to get the most out of the space, and see the clicks come through.